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Student Life

The Biggest Problems Remote Students Are Facing

June 11, 2021

More than one year into the COVID-19 pandemic, there are certainly some things we can look back on and learn from. Although many of us have had to deal with numerous sacrifices and life changes, students have probably had to adjust to some of the biggest. Not only are many of them being forced to learn remotely and online without in-person support from an educator, but they are also limited socially during one of the most important stages of social development in life.

Remote learning in and of itself has led to some challenges that students are struggling to work through effectively. Many are looking forward to getting back to being in the classroom, but for now, addressing some of the issues is one of the best things schools and local governments can do for them. 

Getting Connected

It probably isn’t too great of a surprise, but many families with school-aged kids aren’t exactly rolling in funds. Stay-at-home orders with remote work and education has put an even greater strain on family finances. For many students, not having a computer available to complete school work from home is the first issue they run into when trying to keep up with the rest of the class.

Some students have had to resort to sharing the family’s one computer with siblings, meaning not everyone can be online for class at the same time. This can present challenges when it comes to making sure each child is getting a quality educational experience. There is also growing evidence that this was a struggle students and teachers were dealing with long before the pandemic started.

Staying Engaged

Anyone who has been working from home during any point of the pandemic can testify there are far more distractions at home than in the office or classroom. This is equally, if not more so, truer for young students. Not only are there things to do around the house that aren’t school work, but it is also easy to get distracted online. Internet safety concerns amongst parents are on the rise as their kids spend more and more time connected to a screen.

It can also be hard for students to focus for other reasons. The pandemic hasn’t been easy and many students are working through trauma and stress associated with the dramatic changes in their lives over the past year. It can be hard to accomplish any school work effectively when dealing with mental health issues. For this reason, some schools are striving to make online counseling available to students who may be struggling; unfortunately, these services are the exception and not the norm.

For college students who have had to return home after living in dorms, living with family again has presented its own problems. The distractions of college life are not the same as those at home, where parents and siblings may demand more immediate responses. One way college students can be successful at learning remotely is by taking a cue from remote workers: set specific office hours and make them public — then no one is allowed to disturb you during your office hours.

Online learning, no matter the level, has the potential to open up a lot of opportunities for the right students in the right situations. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic was not one of those situations and many students are struggling in numerous ways. Connection issues, distractions, and mental health are major factors that can limit student engagement and that need to be addressed for long-term success.

BIO: Dan Matthews is a writer with a degree in English from Boise State University. He has extensive experience writing online at the intersection of business, finance, marketing, and culture.

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Health Safety Student Life

How to Stay Healthy When Heading Back to Campus

June 9, 2021

The thought of returning to campus after spending the last year learning from home is exciting, but might also seem a little overwhelming. It’s easy for flu and cold viruses to spread in school environments. How can you stay healthy when making your return?

Go Back Prepared

Travel-sized hand sanitizer can be beneficial. Hand sanitizer is great to have around if you use a bathroom that is out of soap or touch something in a heavily trafficked space and there’s no sink nearby. Also stay vigilant about washing your hands. Staying in this practice will keep you from spreading germs and keep you healthier overall.

Take Your Vitamins

Vitamins and supplements can do a lot to help you maintain good health year round.  USANA Health Sciences offers supplements that include important antioxidants and immune-boosting vitamin D and core minerals that your body needs for cell health. Antioxidants give your body the ability to protect against free radicals, which build up when your body breaks down food or takes in tobacco smoke. 

Develop an Exercise Routine

Exercise plays a huge role in keeping you healthy and your immune system strong. Exercise causes change in antibodies and white blood cells that affects the immune system in a positive way. Exercising regularly also helps keep you at a healthy weight which can fight disease. 

Plus, being active keeps you outside in fresh air, where viruses don’t spread as easily. To reap the benefits of exercise, you should workout three to five times a week for 30 minutes a day. This might seem tough when you’re busy with classes and extracurriculars, but it’s important to make exercise a priority. 

Make an Effort to Eat Healthy

It’s no surprise that in addition to adding exercise to your regime, a healthy and balanced diet will help keep you well as you head back to campus. You should eat a variety of foods and avoid processed foods. Processed foods are more likely to be high in saturated fats. Research shows that diets high in saturated fats may contribute to a less healthy immune system. 

Also eat plenty of veggies and fruits of all different colors. Eating greens like spinach have huge benefits to your health and wellness. Spinach is rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, so you get double the effect in giving your body the nutrients you need. Foods like bell peppers, garlic and broccoli also have positive effects on health. 

Sometimes you’ll have to eat fast food or eat out. Try and look for healthy options on menus and make a point to add in greens. Green smoothies are a great way to incorporate a quick, healthy meal on the go.

As you head back to campus, there are many habits you can incorporate into your daily life to support your health.

BIO: Brett Clawson has a degree in Business Management and has started a couple of small businesses. When he’s not focusing his time on those, he spends time with his wife and two sons. His oldest son has entered the wonderful realm of college, and he now enjoys sharing tips that he and his son have found essential for college life.

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Other Student Life

Why It’s Important to Always Learn New Things

June 3, 2021

Lifelong learning is a self-initiated education focused on personal growth and development. There are no pre-set standards as to how lifelong learning should be. It can take place within or beyond the four walls of the classroom and should be voluntary for the purpose of achieving personal fulfillment.

Learning is becoming more and more critical in the workplace since tech innovations continuously redefine and create jobs in the labor market. Companies have favored massive open online courses (MOOCS) to assist in their employees’ professional development. MOOCS are getting a fair share of popularity in terms of education modality. This platform is comprised of online distance-learning courses that are aimed at delivering the curriculum at your own pace. Technology, business, design, personal development, and language courses are enjoyed by people of all ages and professions in this modern and convenient learning program. 

Knowledge is everywhere. Even the simplest hobby of collecting stamps is putting learning into practice — from finding where to buy stamps, acquiring, organizing, cataloging, displaying, storing, maintaining them in their original form, and studying each stamp’s history. Learning a new musical instrument strengthens your memory and forms reading habits, practices your multitasking skills, increases blood flow in your brain, allows for a mind reset, and reduces feelings of stress and depression. Books are timeless pieces of knowledge source. Reading a book can increase empathy, build your vocabulary, prevent cognitive decline, and alleviate mental strain. With many book sales and cheap ways to ship books, this is not so hard to do. 

There are plenty of reasons to keep learning and you should start today. Make your time useful, allot room for intellectual conversations, grow your small business and reduce stress through a learning experience. Here are other initiatives worth engaging in:

  1. Trying out a new skill. You might just find the fun in cooking, baking, bartending, or gardening.
  2. Self-taught learning. Researching on any topic of interest or learning a new language.
  3. Plunging into a new sport or activity. Taking a zen moment for yoga, increasing your adrenaline with martial arts, or just finishing an exercise.
  4. Getting in touch with tech. Discovering new smart devices and navigating software applications.
  5. Learn a course through MOOC. Business management or technology, take your pick.

Learning something new makes us updated on trends and technological changes. In these modern times, what you do not know makes you left behind. If you are fully unfamiliar with what you want to learn, look back and revisit moments in your life when you wanted to do something but had to defer for a variety of reasons. Whether it is for personal, passion, or professional education, you can definitely lean towards learning new things for personal fulfillment and satisfaction. Humans have a natural desire to explore, learn, grow and find ways to improve their quality of life, sense of self, self-esteem, and worth. When we are fully aware of the possibilities to improve ourselves, only then will we be able to see our true potential.

BIO: Bash Sarmiento is a writer and an educator from Manila who writes laconic pieces in the education, lifestyle, and health realms. His academic background and extensive experience in teaching, textbook evaluation, business management, and traveling are translated into his works.

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Student Life

Finding Balance While Living With Roommates

June 1, 2021

Going off to college is an exciting part of life. However, the experience also comes with a lot of challenges. For many, this will be the first time living outside of home. While living with a roommate comes with many perks, such as lower cost of living, it’s not always an easy task. We’ve all heard those terrible roommate stories that make us cringe and feel afraid of what to expect.

Whether you’re planning on living on-campus or off-campus, here are a few tips that will make your roommate experience a positive one.  

Communicate openly

 As obvious as this seems, being out of our comfort zone puts us in a vulnerable position and can cause us to clam up, especially when we’re nervous or upset. If you’re living with someone you’ve never met before move-in day, it may take some time for you to adjust! Try looking for common ground. Maybe you’re both into the same sports or have similar music taste. Whatever it is, it’ll break the ice and have you bonding right away. A great tip would be bonding while decorating your new place, making it feel much more like home to everyone involved. 

 As time passes, you’ll become more aware of your habits and theirs. If something bothers you, make sure you talk to them about it first. Ensure you don’t complain to others about it, which may find itself back to them and create unnecessary tension. For example, if you notice your roommate is leaving their dirty clothes on the floor, you could tell them you’d appreciate it if they put their dirty clothes in the hamper. They’re more likely to do so than if you make them feel attacked by exposing others to what they do.

Learn to share and also set clear boundaries

Sharing is a big part of living with someone. After all, you’re likely sharing a common area and/or bathroom, and perhaps even a bedroom. Make sure you distribute chores evenly, whether you’re living in a dorm, apartment, or house. Some colleges require first-year students to spend their first year on campus, which will make it easier on your finances. However, living with a couple of roommates in an affordable home may end up costing you the same, and it’ll free you from dorm rules and curfews.   

If all else fails, it’s essential to know when to ask for help. If your roommate is making you feel uncomfortable or affecting your health to a point where communicating with them didn’t solve the problem, it might be time to seek help. If you’re living on campus, you can reach out to your resident assistant to facilitate resources to resolve conflicts or help you switch roommates if necessary. If you’re living off-campus, make sure to communicate your concerns to your roommate first. Most issues can be easily solved through conversation. If that doesn’t work out, make sure you read through your lease before moving out and talking with your landlord about the situation, chances are they’ll either step in or be willing to have someone take your place and print out a new lease. 

Establish rules early on

Being clear on the house rules from the beginning will save you a lot of stress and problems in the long run. Think about all the small details of daily life and talk with your roommate about how you will go about dealing with them. Are you sharing kitchen items, such as plates and silverware? What about bathroom necessities? How are you splitting the costs on shared food items? Remember that you are living with a person who may have different habits than your own. Be clear about things such as expenses, food, parties, and overnight guests. 

Living with roommates with be an adjustment if this is completely new for you. Keep these tips in mind for finding balance!

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Other Student Life

How Online Learning Increases Approachability for Disabled Students

May 28, 2021

There are eight sections in which impaired students are categorized according to their conditions – medical disorder, mental disorder, cognitive impairment, hearing problems, language disability, visual deficiency, acquired brain impairment, and intellectual disability.

Because certain people are physically and emotionally deficient, this does not rule out their ability to succeed in school or the workplace. Education is no longer an arduous task for disabled students, thanks to the introduction of eLearning. Technology which plays a vital role in delivering ideal learning solutions for disabled students.

Disabled students who study online find it more rewarding and less challenging to get knowledge. Disabled students may find it challenging to access a traditional education school, but this is not the situation when they use online learning platforms.

Remote working is getting a lot of spark in recent days. It’s convenient to work from home without having the hassle of moving around and dealing with the morning commute. Working from home also allows disabled people the convenience of operating from home with their ease. They can apply for the desired job from home and can get free resume reviews from online platforms.

Many universities and colleges have begun to provide online learning tools. The idea of virtual campuses is increasingly expanding these days, and thus more disabled students are enrolling. Technology also plays an integral part in delivering ideal learning solutions for disabled students. Students nowadays have the option of choosing their locations for coursework and research.

Furthermore, disabled students choose to learn online because it allows them to have more time to finish homework and allows them to sit, relax, or exercise anytime they need to. For disabled people, there are several advantages to eLearning that they can take advantage of without difficulty. We will mention below that how online studying increases convenience for these students.

Learning at your own pace and location

As a critical forum for online learning, the Internet provides disabled students with the ease of getting educated. Students who are mentally or physically impaired no longer have to drive long distances and struggle with the issues that come with it, such as being pressured for time and continually coping with pressures, thanks to computer-based learning. According to studies, 90 percent of disabled students don’t attend schools. Many individuals, rather than disabled students, do not have the ability or resources to drive long distances.

One of the critical reasons attending college or university is daunting for disabled students is the inconvenient commute. Every day tasks become quite hectic and special students need assistance from others. Simple activities like using the toilet may be a mild hassle for college-bound students who live with their disability. Imagine them commuting long distances to and from school every day! With physical disabilities, going to university for many years to get a degree seems like a lot of effort.

Benefits of online learning for disabled students

When physical disabilities prohibit you from doing what everyone else: like gaining a degree, it’s possible to get frustrated. This mindset is flipped via online learning, promoting the mentality of “I can do it!”

There are many ways in which students with disability who are studying online does not feel discouraged or do not mind any inferiority complex. Online studies remove any kind of discouragement and complexity from the disabled student’s minds.

  • Since online learning is more convenient, students feel freer to engage more than if they were in a loud or distracting environment. Fear of loss or judgment is also reduced because there is no peer pressure or rivalry. Online students now have quick access to the services they need, which impacts their overall results. It’s also worth mentioning that online educators are actively knocking down walls to promote online student engagement.
  • The ability to “study within their own tempo” is a crucial factor in disabled graduate’s progress. The ability to plan their own timetable relieves the undue burden that most students in traditional universities experience. Disabled and regular students can take breaks whenever they want or prepare for as long as they wish in certain college classes. They follow the correct principles to prevent mental or emotional exhaustion.
  • Disabled students who study online have more time and space to work. They will check the content and watch lectures however many times as they like with eLearning. Students with visual processing disorder or dyslexia can modify digital text using IT programs and software by changing the font type or scale, which helps them interpret information more efficiently.
  • Students with hearing loss may benefit from technological advancements. They can watch lectures with subtitles, something they cannot do in the classroom. Since the text is the primary means of contact for teachers and other pupils, it can be a more convenient way to communicate through platforms and emails.
  • Students with psychiatric disabilities can practice and learn in their settings. Since it is challenging for them to deal with the circumstance and distress, their familiar environment would aid them in learning by eLearning.
  • At any step, two key factors are helpful to disabled students: persuasion and versatility. Distance learners will benefit from online learning because it is more versatile than conventional schooling approaches.

BIO: Grace Griffin is a member of the writer’s team on Research Prospect. She has Bachelor’s in Law, Masters in Literature, and a PhD in Economics. Grace is a technical writer and loves reading articles, blogs, magazines, newspapers and books.

Adulting Student Life

How to Prioritize (Not) Paying Off Your Student Loans During the Moratorium

May 24, 2021

Student loans have been in the news recently as there has been buzz surrounding some sort of government relief soon. If you are a borrower looking for relief, you may be wondering what your best move is regarding repayment. How you act now could help you gear your finances up for any upcoming legislation on the matter.

What you are about to read will seem counterproductive – but stick with it till the end.

Hold Off On Repayment Until the Moratorium Expires

It may seem crazy not to take advantage of our current relief period to pay down some of those federal loans, but, instead, consider taking what money you would be paying, interest included, and putting it into a separate savings account.

This interest-free period means that the total amount you have to pay back won’t increase in the interim. By putting the money you would typically use for loans aside, you can create a pool of funds that will amount to a significant sum whenever the moratorium is allowed to expire.

The Political Future of Student Loans is Uncertain

President Biden has stated that he is open to $10,000 of blanket student loan forgiveness, eliminating some of the economic strain for many borrowers. However, there is reason to believe that the relief will be much broader.

The last major stimulus bill extended the moratorium until March 2022 and made any future loan relief tax-exempt. Though we are not quite sure what will happen, there is strong evidence that lawmakers are gearing up for some type of comprehensive action regarding student loans. We also know that student loan relief has some bipartisan support, though disagreements exist.

The Scenario You Want to Avoid:

Let’s say you owe $15,000, and pre-COVID, you were paying $300 a month, including interest. You decided to make monthly payments throughout the pandemic even though the interest was frozen and payments were paused.

Now we’re over a year into the pandemic, and the moratorium on student loan repayment is extended until at least March 2022. Let’s imagine that the progressive wing of the democratic party can convince Joe Biden to raise the initial offer of $10,000 to $25,000 of loan forgiveness.

You’ve essentially wasted all the money you’ve been paying back throughout the moratorium because your loans were forgiven.

If you had put that money aside, you’d have a significant amount of cash.

What If Nothing Gets Forgiven?

If there is no action taken to combat the student loan crisis, then we can assume payments, as usual, will resume in March 2022. If you had been saving your monthly payment amount, then in February of 2022, you can make a large lump sum payment that puts you back on track as if nothing happened.

Why Not Paying Right Now Makes Sense

Because we know something will likely happen regarding the student debt crisis, and because we don’t know exactly what that something will be, the best course of action is to save that money you would normally use for repayment.

You either have some (or all) of your loans forgiven and have a large sum of money available, or you resume payments like nothing ever happened. By not paying during the moratorium, it’s a win. However, by paying, there is a chance you’ll lose.

BIO: Veronica Baxter is a writer, blogger, and legal assistant operating out of the greater Philadelphia area. She writes for the Law Offices of David Offen, who is a successful bankruptcy lawyer in Philadelphia.

Other Student Life

8 Tips for Eco-Friendly Apartment Living

May 21, 2021

Many college students find living on or off campus as part of the college experience. Student-tenants benefit living away from their families, they gain a sense of independence, financial management strategies and an opportunity to pick a lifestyle of their own. Nowadays, many students have turned to the eco-friendly lifestyle and prefer environmentally-friendly products. This only proves that students have an environmental conscience and are aware of their social responsibility.

Here are a few ways to up your eco-friendly apartment life:

Conserve electricity

Every bit of it. You can start by knowing when to switch off appliances or using the self-timer feature of your television and air conditioner. Cut down electricity usage by switching off lights you do not need. There are many ways to practice conservation of energy. With this, you are reducing your carbon footprint and saving more money. For lights you use frequently, opt for LED bulbs. You will pay more money up front for them, but you’ll quickly see the savings in your electric bill over time.

Eco-friendly technology

When you have the opportunity to make a switch to more energy efficient products, do so. It is much like paying forward to the environment. Solar-powered lights, radio and calculators help you save money and reduce your energy output. You can also buy rechargeable batteries, which will save you money in the long run.

Don’t waste food

Not only is this waste of money but also a waste of landfill space. You can do composting if food waste is really unavoidable. Reduce your food waste by smart shopping. Buy less than enough perishables that you will be able to eat. Sometimes, less is more than enough. 

Recycle

As a student, there are many ways to practice recycling. Separate recyclable and non-recyclable materials. Reuse your shopping bags. You can also buy recycled paper and reuse by printing on both sides.

Try to fix stuff before ditching it

Throwing things away should be your last option! If you have a broken lamp, furniture or kitchenware, try to see if it can still be repaired. The internet can be your guide in practically fixing anything as there are tutorial videos for each household item, you just have to find it. Or, if it’s not broken but it’s not suiting you and your needs anymore, see if you can give it to a friend or selling it online. Remember, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure!

Skip the plastic

On your next trip to the grocery store, don’t forget to bring a canvas reusable bag with you. Avoid single-use plastic bags or buying bottled water. Opt for an insulated water bottle instead. At your favorite coffee shop, give the barista your reusable mug. There are so many ways to cut down plastic usage. Many cities and counties have banned plastic bags from stores altogether. And if you forget your reusable bags, you’ll be charged for a paper bag.

Visit your local sustainable retail store

This can be an eye-opener for you if you’ve never done this before. In a sustainable store, you are required to bring your own reusable canisters and canvas bags to put in your coffee, sugar, rice and other grocery items that are not in their usual plastic packaging. Items might cost a little more, but produce and products here are mostly non-GMO and organic so you can feel extra good about what you’re consuming.

Make earth-friendly decisions

The next time you are asked to jot down notes, use your laptop or your smartphone instead of paper. Try riding your bike or walking to classes instead of driving your car. Or if you must drive, try to carpool with a friend!

Student Life Transition

8 Tips To Rely on When Choosing a University

May 19, 2021

Choosing a university is a pretty stressful experience. After all, you will likely spend at least 4 years there!

The great variety of universities doesn’t make the choice any easier. So what should you look out for while choosing a higher education institution?

Here are 8 bulletproof tips to rely on while choosing a college or university!

Decide On a Major

Some universities are famous for their science labs while others are most known for their amazing writers and innovative artists. After you have chosen what field you want to work in, take a look at top-performing universities in the industry. It will narrow down the choice significantly.

Choose a Location

If you are not comfortable living too far away from friends and family, don’t choose a location across the country. The experience will be overshadowed by a constant feeling of missing everyone. Staying closer to home will probably save you a lot of money, too! Everyone’s situation is unique.

Also, climate matters. Do you tolerate heat well? What is too cold for you? Does rainy weather make you sick? Keep all of this in mind when choosing where to attend school.

Learn More About the Campus

You will spend a lot of time on campus so you might want to discover whether it suits your preference. Check how busy it is, what vibe it has, what typical students are like, and whether professors have a big flow of students they barely know or they are available to answer all the questions and help. What is the town or city like that surrounds the campus? Make sure to check out the crime rate and if desirable locations to live if you were to choose to attend a school there.

Determine Your Budget

Some cities and universities are more costly than others. It is not only about tuition but about the cost of accommodation, food, textbooks, etc. Find out about available scholarships and internships as well. It’s not worth the heartbreak to fall in love with a campus only to find out the cost of attendance is way out of your budget.

Check Student Accommodations

If you want to leave your hometown, student accommodation is an essential criterion. If you think that it is just the place where you will sleep and it does not matter, you will be surprised how much it can change your college experience. Find out the condition of rooms, services like laundry, and the number of roommates you may have. Depending on each individual’s situation, you may want to locate student disabilities, work-study options, veteran services, or other campus outreach programs.

Learn More About Student Life

College years are the best. However, it mostly depends on you and the university. Check what clubs and societies there are on campus, what kind of events are organized, and also some opportunities for volunteering and getting to know people.

Check Out Opportunities

Going to college is a great opportunity to discover the world and yourself. Check what exchange programs, conferences, or internships you may try while studying. Many campuses have resource offices and student success programs that have more information about these opportunities.

Rank Your Needs

It’s unlikely there is a university that fulfill each and every one of your requirements. Take a look at previous points and rank what is more important to you: costs, location, or accommodation. It will make the final choice much easier. 

Stick to these tips and make a more accurate and thought-through choice. We hope you will find the right fit and have the time of your life on campus!

BIO: Susan Craig is an experienced writer and active contributor for Studocu.  She is fond of blogging, motivation articles, and management. Her goal is to provide quality and inspiring content.

Student Life

How To Find The Best Discounts For College Students

May 17, 2021

Being a college student can be expensive. Beyond the costs of tuition itself, the expenses relating to housing, food, computers, books and miscellaneous supplies can really stack up – and that’s before you throw in any entertainment, travel and the odd coffee or late-night pizza. When it comes to attending college, there can be a whole host of hidden fees.

Whatever can be done to minimize these ‘out of pocket’ expenses, the better. That’s where knowing how to make the most of college student discounts comes in.

Every 10% saved here and there can really add up, as can utilizing offers for free services or products both on and off campus. But, finding these deals and discounts isn’t always easy, so here is a guide to help you.

Here are some of the best discounts that students can access to make their college years a little more affordable.

Tech deals

Tech giants Microsoft offer a variety of discounts and even freebies to students wishing to access their software. For example, for a start, any available Microsoft product can be purchased by a student at a discount of 10%.

Students are also eligible to use their Office 365 software suite for free. This suite includes the most popular applications such as Word, PowerPoint and Excel. This alone is a saving of $70 per year. Simply head to Microsoft Student Education and have your college email details handy.

Entertainment

There are so many opportunities to save money with college student discounts when you take the time to uncover what’s available. Most movie theaters offer discounts to college students, including National chains like AMC, Regal Cinemas and Cinemark. A college ID is as good as a ‘get in free’ pass for many music venues and museums. New York’s Lincoln Center and Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Museums are just some examples of the cultural institutions that offer greatly discounted or free admissions. 

Major League Baseball also offers discounts to students in around a dozen cities, including the Chicago cubs, the Boston Red Sox, the Atlanta Braves and more.

Commerce king Amazon offers a truckload of products favorable to students, and a good deal of discounts, too. These include free books, video and music downloads, free one-day shipping, discounts of books, music and movies, and up to 80% off items like mobile phone cases, USB adapters, packs of ramen noodles, granola bars, and more.

Amazon also offers students a six month free trial and a further 50% of their membership when the trial has ended. Prime Student subscribers can also access Amazon Music Unlimited for just .99 cents a month – a massive saving from what is usually $9.99 per month. 

Transportation deals

There is certainly no shortage of great deals for students when it comes to both public and private transport.

Regarding rail, Amtrak offers a 10% discount on tickets for students who have signed up to their Student Advantage Discount Card. Rail Europe also offers a 23% discount to students taking a semester in Europe, although this does only refer to second class travel.

If you like the bus, the Student Advantage Discount Card gives you 15% off of any Greyhound tickets, for an annual fee of $30. Many college towns also offer low-cost annual or seasonal passes to take subway trains and buses across town. Contact your local town or city’s transport page or ask at your college about local train and bus deals.

Clothing, food, and more

Aimed exclusively towards college students, Unidays offers discounts to members on over 150 brand name products and services. These include companies like Apple, Samsung, American Eagle, Adidas, and more.

Simply by signing up, you automatically qualify for some amazing deals, like a free $20 Costco gift card, $20 off Apple products, and 20% of food deliveries ordered through GrubHub. This one-stop-shop allows you to select the deals you like best when you sign up – and there are plenty to choose from.

Final thoughts

Taking a moment to shop around and source great deals and discounts can save you a surprising amount of your precious student budget – leaving you feeling a little more relaxed and able to save or spend on things that have previously been a little out of reach.

Student Life

Pursuing Your STEM Career Online

May 12, 2021

Careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) can be highly lucrative. But pursuing a career in STEM can also be difficult while juggling life’s many obligations and pandemic concerns.

Given the shift to virtual classes and hybridized higher education brought about by COVID-19, online STEM learning is becoming increasingly popular. This can make pursuing your career even easier with the right preparation.

The Benefits of an Online STEM Education

Your STEM career can receive a reinvigorating boost from an online approach. As positions in science and tech continue to grow at a rapid rate, the presence of virtual options in education can mean greater flexibility and accessibility for you.

Among the benefits of online STEM education are the following:

  • Online learning puts your schedule into your own hands, allowing you to develop better time management for juggling work, learning, and family time.
  • Online learning gives you experience with new tech platforms and opportunities for developing self-motivation skills.
  • Online learning allows you to develop virtual leadership potential and redefine your skillset for the new working normal.

As tech advancements are helping to spark an interest in STEM studies from a young age, the benefits they bring usher in new opportunities for all generations. Virtually networking with classmates and professors mean you can explore your career with the safety and flexibility required in the modern workforce.

Exploring Your Options

But beginning your online STEM career takes plenty of preparation for success. From the way you manage your time while studying online to the program in which you enroll, proper thought and consideration will directly influence your ability to thrive.

First, explore all your options for degrees and vocational programs. A wide variety of STEM positions are out there, from data analytics to civil engineering. An online Master’s in business analytics, for example, can be obtained in as little as a single year, with short course eight-week options available to interested students.

The right program for you will depend on your intended degree. Career paths in STEM include:

  • Chemistry
  • Computer science
  • Information technology
  • Engineering
  • Mathematics, and so many more.

Find your niche program that can support your career goals in a technical field. Not every STEM position requires a long-term, university commitment, and with the explosion of virtual learning, finding something that works for you is easier than ever.

With online learning, the world is your classroom. Look for courses that help you achieve your goals and develop strategies now for online learning success.

Flexibly Advance Your Career

The chief merit of online learning is its ability to offer flexible, customizable career advancement. This can be vital in fighting mental and physical fatigue in college, as you’ll focus more directly on your personal education goals in a schedule tailor-made for you. Work a job, wake up late, and keep your eye on your kids all while moving towards a lucrative career path.

Online learning gives you the tools to navigate life’s challenges while developing yourself. Take advantage of these benefits in pursuing your STEM career.

BIO: Sam Bowman has a passion for learning. As a seasoned professional writer, he specializes in topics about people, education, tech and how they merge. In his spare time he likes running, reading, and combining the two in a run to his local bookstore.